2021 Honda Passport

Is the Honda Passport a Good SUV?

Yes, the Honda Passport is a good midsize SUV. It balances playful handling with a gentle ride, and its V6 engine is strong enough for most driving scenarios. There are also a few off-roading features that allow this Honda to traverse dirt or sandy trails. Inside, you’ll find a handsome and spacious cabin, but a few of the tech controls can be frustrating.

Why You Can Trust Us: 20 Reviews Analyzed

Our goal is to make shopping for your next car as easy as possible. You'll find everything you need to know about this vehicle in our comprehensive Honda Passport review. It combines concrete data like fuel economy estimates, horsepower specs, and cargo space dimensions with 20 professional reviews.

This 2021 Honda Passport review incorporates applicable research for all models in this generation, which launched for 2019.

U.S. News Best Cars has been ranking and reviewing vehicles since 2007, and our staff has more than 75 years of combined experience in the auto industry. To ensure our objectivity, we never accept expensive gifts from carmakers, and an outside firm manages the ads on our site.

Should I Buy the Honda Passport?

Roomy and comfortable, the Honda Passport is an impressive SUV, but there are plenty of great options in the class. If you want an even better off-roader, consider the Jeep Grand Cherokee. You might also be interested in the Honda Pilot, which is essentially a three-row version of the Passport.

Find a 2021 Honda Passport for sale near you »

2020 vs. 2021 Honda Passport: What's the Difference?

For 2021, Honda adds an 8-inch touch screen, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay to the Passport’s standard features list. Previously, they were optional. There are no other major changes.

Compare the 2020 and 2021 Passport »

Here are the key changes for the Honda Passport over the last few years:

• 2019: reintroduced after lengthy hiatus
• 2020: no notable changes
• 2021: more tech features now standard

If you're considering an older model, be sure to read our 2019 Passport and 2020 Passport reviews to help make your decision. Also, check out our Best New Car Deals and Best New Car Lease Deals pages to learn about savings and discounts you can find on new vehicles.

How Much Does the Honda Passport Cost?

The Passport has a starting MSRP of $32,590. That’s above average for the class. The top-trim Elite starts at just under $44,000.

Check out our U.S. News Best Price Program for great savings at your local Honda dealer. You can also find excellent manufacturer incentives on our Honda deals page.

Honda Passport Versus the Competition

Honda Passport vs. Honda Pilot

Choosing between the Honda Pilot and Passport mostly comes down to whether you prefer a midsize SUV with two rows or three. Both vehicles have the same V6 engine and similar base prices. The Passport has more standard features, but all of them are available in the Pilot. The Pilot also has eight-passenger seating and a larger overall cargo area, but it isn't quite as capable beyond the pavement as the Passport.

Compare the Passport and Pilot »

Honda Passport vs. Hyundai Santa Fe

The Hyundai Santa Fe is a great SUV with a high-quality interior, a cushioned ride, and an infotainment system that’s more intuitive than the Passport’s. The Hyundai also gets better fuel economy than the Honda, but it offers a choice of two four-cylinder engines in contrast to the Passport’s lone V6. The Honda has more cargo space and sharper handling than the Hyundai. Both vehicles are good choices, but the Santa Fe’s lower base price is a point in its favor.

Compare the Passport and Santa Fe »

Compare the Passport, Pilot, and Santa Fe »

Passport Interior: Stamp of Approval

Passport Cargo Space

Cargo capacity in the Passport depends on how the seats are positioned, but in general the space is good for the class. You'll find 41.2 to 50.5 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats and a total of 77.9 to 100.8 cubic feet behind the front seats. As a bonus, there’s 2.5 cubic feet of space in an under-floor storage bin. Both a power liftgate and a hands-free liftgate are available.

How Many People Does the Passport Seat?

The Passport is a two-row SUV with five seats. Cloth upholstery is standard. Upgrades include leather-trimmed upholstery, heated front seats, power-adjustable front seats, ventilated front seats, heated rear outboard seats, and a heated steering wheel.

Although a touch firm, the seats are otherwise comfortable, even on longer drives. Both rows have plenty of head- and legroom, and two adults can comfortably sit in the back.

Passport and Child Car Seats

There are three complete sets of LATCH connectors for the Passport’s rear seats. The tether anchors can be hard to find, and the lower anchors are set deeply in the seats.

Passport Interior Quality

The Passport's cabin is lined with soft plastics and features top-notch fit and finish. The dashboard and center console are very similar to those found in the Honda Pilot, with which the Passport shares many components.

Passport Infotainment, Bluetooth, and Navigation

Controls in the Passport are somewhat of a mixed bag. There are physical buttons for some climate functions and a touch screen for infotainment. The touch screen is angled up toward the ceiling, and some of the buttons are overly sensitive. There are also few physical infotainment controls, which would make the system easier to use.

• Standard infotainment features: an 8-inch touch screen, a seven-speaker stereo, Bluetooth, a USB port, and smartphone integration via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Available infotainment features: navigation, a 10-speaker stereo, satellite radio, a Wi-Fi hot spot, two additional USB ports, wireless device charging, and a 115-volt household-style power outlet
• Additional standard features: remote start, push-button start, proximity keyless entry, and tri-zone automatic climate control
• Other available features: a moonroof

For more information, read What Is Apple CarPlay? and What Is Android Auto?

Read more about interior »

Passport Performance: A Little Bit of Everything

Passport Engine

Powering every Passport is a 3.5-liter V6 engine rated at 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. It’s mated with a nine-speed automatic transmission. This powertrain is strong enough for most driving needs, effortlessly bringing this vehicle up to speed and supplying those bursts of power needed for passing on the highway. The transmission is usually unobtrusive, although a few critics found it doesn't shift as smoothly in some drive modes, such as Mud.

Passport Gas Mileage

Front-wheel-drive models get an EPA-estimated 20 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway. Adding all-wheel drive lowers those figures to 19 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. Those fuel economy ratings are about average for a midsize SUV with a V6 engine.

Passport Ride and Handling

For a bulky SUV, this Honda strikes a good balance between on-road comfort and agile cornering. Few flaws in the pavement permeate the cabin, and a combination of strong brakes, well-tuned dampers, and direct steering help this vehicle feel engaging to drive. Front-wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive is available.

Passport Off-Road Performance

With up to 8.1 inches of ground clearance and an Intelligent Traction Management system with snow, sand, and mud settings, the Passport is a fairly capable off-roader. While it can handle a dirt trail fine, it lacks the equipment needed to be a true adventurer, such as skid plates and hill descent control.

Passport Towing Capacity

When properly equipped, this Honda can tow up to 5,000 pounds.

Read more about performance »

Passport Reliability

Is the Honda Passport Reliable?

The 2021 Passport has a predicted reliability rating of three out of five, which is about average.

Honda Passport Warranty

Backing the Passport is Honda’s three-year/36,000-mile limited warranty and five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty.

Read more about reliability »

Passport Safety

Passport Crash Test Results

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the 2021 Honda Passport an overall safety rating of five out of five stars, with five stars in the side crash test and four stars in the frontal crash and rollover tests.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has not evaluated the 2021 Passport as of this writing.

Passport Safety Features

Standard advanced safety features:

• Lane departure warning
• Lane keep assist
• Road departure mitigation
• Rearview camera
• Forward collision warning
• Automatic emergency braking
• Automatic high-beam headlights
• Stop-and-go adaptive cruise control

Available advanced safety features:

• Blind spot monitoring
• Rear cross traffic alert
• Front and rear parking sensors

Read more about safety »

Passport Dimensions and Weight

The Passport is 15.9 feet long. Its curb weight ranges from 3,959 to 4,237 pounds.

Where Is the 2021 Honda Passport Built?

Honda builds the 2021 Passport in Alabama.

Which Honda Passport Model Is Right for Me?

Honda makes the 2021 Passport in four trim levels: Sport, EX-L, Touring, and Elite. The base trim is decently equipped with tech and safety features. The EX-L is a good bet if you're looking for comfort add-ons like leather upholstery.

Wireless device charging is available for $236 in every trim but the Elite, where it comes standard. All-wheel drive costs $2,000 in every trim.

Honda Passport Sport

The Honda Passport Sport has a starting MSRP of $32,590. Standard equipment includes an 8-inch touch screen, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, a seven-speaker stereo, a USB port, Bluetooth, tri-zone automatic climate control, proximity keyless entry, and remote start.

The Honda Sensing suite of driver aids is included too. It bundles a collision mitigation braking system, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, road departure mitigation, and adaptive cruise control. You’ll also get a rearview camera and automatic high-beam headlights.

Rear parking sensors cost $523. There are also Adventure and Urban packages that add things like underbody spoilers, fender flares, roof rails, and running boards.

Honda Passport EX-L

With a starting MSRP of $36,610, the EX-L adds blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, two more USB ports, satellite radio, HD Radio, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a moonroof, a power liftgate, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and leather-trimmed seats with heating and power adjustments up front.

Honda Passport Touring

Touring models retail for $39,480. They pick up a satellite-linked navigation system, a Wi-Fi hot spot, a 10-speaker premium stereo, a 115-volt household-style power outlet, heated rear outboard seats, front and rear parking sensors, and a hands-free liftgate.

Honda Passport Elite

Rounding out this Honda’s lineup is the range-topping Elite trim. It starts at $43,980 and gains wireless device charging, a heated steering wheel, perforated and ventilated front seats, and rain-sensing windshield wipers.

Check out our U.S. News Best Price Program for great savings at your local Honda dealer. You can also find excellent manufacturer incentives on our Honda deals page.

See 2021 Honda Passport specs and trims »

The Final Call

There’s a lot to like about the Honda Passport. It offers a capable engine, balanced handling, and a well-mannered ride. Its cargo capacity is above average among midsize SUVs, and it has some light off-road abilities. However, this is a highly competitive segment, and you can find rival crossovers with better-cushioned seats and more intuitive infotainment controls.

Don't just take our word for it. Check out comments from some of the reviews that drive our rankings and analysis.

• "Its standard V-6 engine is powerful, and its interior is practical and capacious. We chose it as our favorite two-row mid-size crossover in a comparison test over the Ford Edge, the Nissan Murano, the Chevy Blazer, and the Hyundai Santa Fe on these merits and because it’s good to drive, with confident handling. Its main demerits include so-so fuel economy and some occasionally fussy interior controls. Despite these quibbles, it is one of our highest-rated SUVs." -- Car and Driver
• "If you like the Pilot but don’t need something quite so big, or if you need a daily livable SUV-type thing that can handle a climb to your Colorado cabin, the 2019 Passport is certainly worth a look. While it may not thrill in the conventional sense, this new Honda delivers the goods by doing its job almost perfectly." -- Automobile Magazine (2019)
• "A comfortable cabin, lots of standard and optional safety equipment, and a strong powerplant make it an excellent daily driver, too." -- Edmunds (2019)